SHiFT Greenwich opened as SHiFT’s second pilot Practice, in partnership with the Royal Borough of Greenwich and under the leadership of the Director of Children’s Services Florence Kroll, in July 2021.
In September 2022, the Local Authority successfully secured additional funding from the Greater London Violence Reduction Unit to pilot SHiFT’s approach in partnership with two local schools. This enabled the Practice to recruit two further Guides and appoint a Senior Guide to work with an additional 10-12 children.
In March 2023, the Practice started working with a second group of children and families.
SHiFT Greenwich’s work alongside two children - Banquo Jr and Jake - were highlighted as examples of excellent practice by the Commission on Young Lives, chaired by former Children’s Commissioner, Anne Longfield.
Read more here -
https://thecommissiononyounglives.co.uk/guest-blog-from-shift/
Meet the Team
Daniel John
SHiFT Greenwich has been led by Daniel since July 2021. Daniel has worked within youth justice settings in a variety of roles and local authorities for the past 15 years. He has extensive experience of working within children’s residential settings, voluntary sector organisations relating to grassroots football, youth clubs and developing holiday programmes for children in the local community. Daniel is currently training to become a systemic family therapist.
Chris Johnson started his work with children and young people as a peer mentor. He moved into play-work and then as a youth worker in youth centres and clubs, delivering drama and dance workshops.
Chris utilised this experience by moving into participation youth work alongside working in youth centres. These settings consisted of working in youth councils, school councils, youth forums, NCS and other participation groups, supporting young people to get involved and influence their communities, led him into leadership in two local authorities. His roles since have consisted of Early Help worker, Youth Development Officer, Serious Youth Violence officer and now as a SHiFT Guide, all supporting vulnerable children, young people and their families.
Holly Conroy started her career in the voluntary sector after completing an MA in English Literature, by coordinating drama-based family relationships and parenting programmes in prisons across the UK. As part of this role, she led on the development of a new programme exploring identity and masculinity and facilitated train-the-trainer events to roll out the programme. From here, Holly moved into direct work with young men in custody, leading on the development of a new intervention for young men convicted of drug-dealing offences in HMP/YOI Isis.
Holly then moved into community-based work, based in A&E, as a crisis youth worker for young people who came into hospital as victims of serious youth violence and exploitation. This experience inspired Holly to join SHiFT. After 18 months as a SHiFT Guide, Holly took on a new role as Senior Guide, leading on the application of the SHiFT model to schools as an earlier preventative intervention.
Steve Porritt first started as a volunteer with St Giles Trust in 2018 before becoming an SOS St Giles caseworker within RBG. He was tasked with supporting males, of various age groups and abilities, the youngest being 13 to the oldest at 55. In 2021, he decided to seek a new challenge and became a SHiFT Guide.
In May 2023, Steve received a British Empire Medal (BEM), in recognition of his service to children, families and the community.
Omotara Aladegbamigbe joined SHiFT Greenwich as a Guide in July 2023.
Laura Jeffery started her career as a football coach working with young people of varying ages, before finishing university and moving to Los Angeles. Whilst living in LA she worked in sales and marketing as a Regional Director for a youth sports company, managing programmes being run throughout Southern California.
Following her return to the UK, she joined the prison service, eventually moving into a senior leadership position. Here, Laura witnessed first-hand the many challenges within the UK justice system. It was these experiences that inspired her to join SHiFT one year ago.
Ivan Fergus
Ivan originally qualified as a graphic designer before obtaining a law degree. After working in both fields, he transitioned into the youth justice sector. He worked for numerous London-based Youth Justice Services for over nine years, before taking a permanent role as a Youth Justice Officer in South London. Ivan has extensive experience as a Senior Youth Justice Service Bail and Remand Officer, overseeing children and adolescents who appear before the courts for serious matters relating to offending.
He also worked with a Local Authority, London-based, gangs’ team for 5 years, dealing with young people at risk of county lines, gangs, and serious youth violence.
Isla Whittle
Isla is the Practice Co-ordinator at Greenwich SHiFT and has been in post since January 2023. Starting in Greenwich in 2017, Isla started her career in the various roles as business support within the Fostering team and Child Protection. Isla also has degree in psychology.